Journalists for Jonathan 2015, an NGO, has called for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 to due to his commitment to human rights and freedom of the media.
The Director-General of the group, Sola Ojewusi, made the call at a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday.
Ojewusi said in Nigeria today, anyone could criticise President Jonathan without fear of reprisal as he had refused to use his enormous power to muffle public opinion or attack human freedom.
“For his courageous signing of Freedom of Information Act, for his definite commitment to transformation of Nigeria, we are endorsing Goodluck Jonathan as president from 2015 to 2019,” he said.
He stressed that Journalists for Jonathan was not affiliated to the Peoples Democratic Party or the Nigeria Union of Journalists.
Ojewusi said: “Our members are not recruited based on party affiliation but solely on a common desire to engage in intellectual and patriotic debate towards the actualisation of the re-election of Jonathan.”
Ojewusi said more than anyone else, Jonathan had not only guaranteed media freedom, he had also defended and respected human freedom.
He said: “Through greatest tolerance and belief in the rule of law, Jonathan has set a standard in leadership.
“Freedom of the press is guaranteed.
“We stand the risk of bringing in a man whose human rights record is zero.
“On balance, we choose to go with a man who has proved his respect for human freedom.”
Ojewusi said Jonathan deserved another tenure because of his achievements in education, power, infrastructure and the transformation of airports, roads, rail and water ways.
He said the current oil glut could not be used to measure Jonathan’s economic policy, “for Nigeria had unarguably become the largest economy in Africa under his administration.
“The oil industry has always been subjected to the vagaries of the international market and in this situation Nigeria is not an island.
“The oil producing world is generally facing a recession, this will not be permanent.
“In the first quarter of 2008, the price went below $50 per barrel.
“Before the end of the year, the price shot above $70 per barrel.
“This current price will surely improve as we move into the new year.”
Ojewusi said Jonathan had performed credibly in the areas of fighting insurgency.
Ojewusi said having studied the political terrain and lofty efforts of the present government despite the many challenges, Jonathan was the best among the aspirants.
Ojewusi said journalists were also individuals with preferences and personal convictions about the way a country should be run.
He said: “It is not a strange phenomenon as some of the world’s best media organisations and individuals had at one time or the other endorsed candidates or parties of their choice.
“Major media in great democracies like the US, UK, Canada, Germany among others had endorsed candidates before and still do.
“Major Nigeria media organisations have also in recent years toed this line based on their conviction about the merits of particular candidates.
“Journalists for Jonathan 2015 is made up of young and old journalists committed to the re-election of Jonathan.”